Marine Plastic Research Articles

Research on the characteristics of pressured pyrolysis products of marine plastics

The problem of marine plastic pollution, mainly composed of polyolefin plastics, is becoming increasingly serious, and reducing marine plastic pollution is urgent. Pyrolysis, as a promising technology for treating polyolefin plastics such as polystyrene (PS), has great potential in addressing marine plastic pollution issues. In order to explore the possibility of resource utilization of marine plastics, this article studied the effect of pressure changes on the pyrolysis products of marine plastics. Marine PS was prepared by soaking routine PS in artificial seawater and air drying, and the most significant difference between the two was found to be the salt attached to the surface. The dynamic characteristics of marine PS were analyzed using Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) methods, and the apparent activation energy of marine PS calculated by FWO and KAS methods are 102.94 kJ·mol−1 and 95.76 kJ·mol−1, respectively. The effect of pressure at different temperatures on the pyrolysis products of marine PS was studied. The results indicate that the yield of pyrolysis oil decreases as the pressure is increased, while solid products are obtained from scratch. The increase in pressure will gradually make the composition of the thermolytic gas become monotonous. Under critical pressure, pressurization promotes an increase in CH4 content while reducing H2 content, causing the lower heating value of pyrolysis gas to increase to 4.355 kJ·g−1. Analysis of oil content found that increasing pressure promotes the growth of Benzene Toluene Ethylbenzene & Xylene (BTEX) to 33.61%, but excessive pressure can significantly reduce the higher heating value from 42.116 MJ·kg−1 to 31.825 MJ·kg−1. The solid products were characterized using FTIR and it was found that pressure did not have a significant impact on surface functional groups. Increasing the pressure properly promotes the agglomeration of amorphous carbon.

The Impact of Marine Plastic Pollution in Asia-Pacific on Small-Scale Fisher’s Rights

This paper examines the impact of marine plastic pollution on small-scale fishers in Asia-Pacific countries and how the existing international law accommodates this problem. The research method used is doctrinal legal research with a statute approach and case approach using primary, secondary, and tertiary legal materials analysed with descriptive analytical techniques. The results show that Asia-Pacific is the most significant contributor to marine plastic pollution in the world as a region at the centre of the world's economic growth. The fisheries industry is one of the economic sectors that is the mainstay of countries in the Asia-Pacific, such as Indonesia, Australia, and China, because it contributes to a high Gross Domestic Product and becomes a job for small-scale fishers. However, marine plastic pollution is a problem because it contaminates fish, impacting fishermen's productivity. This has eliminated the rights of fishermen, especially the small-scale fisher, to obtain decent work and the right to an adequate standard of living. Meanwhile, the existing international law has yet to accommodate the plastic waste problem in the Asia-Pacific Ocean explicitly, so there is legal uncertainty that regulates this problem. This research concluded that the issue of marine plastic pollution in the Asia-Pacific must be handled seriously by formulating an agreement between countries in the region that contains more technical and specific arrangements to maintain the rights of small-scale fishers in obtaining decent work and adequate living standards.

Microplastics in the insular marine environment of the Southwest Indian Ocean carry a microbiome including antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria: A case study from Reunion Island

The increasing threats to ecosystems and humans from marine plastic pollution require a comprehensive assessment. We present a plastisphere case study from Reunion Island, a remote oceanic island located in the Southwest Indian Ocean, polluted by plastics. We characterized the plastic pollution on the island's coastal waters, described the associated microbiome, explored viable bacterial flora and the presence of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria. Reunion Island faces plastic pollution with up to 10,000 items/km2 in coastal water. These plastics host microbiomes dominated by Proteobacteria (80 %), including dominant genera such as Psychrobacter, Photobacterium, Pseudoalteromonas and Vibrio. Culturable microbiomes reach 107 CFU/g of microplastics, with dominance of Exiguobacterium and Pseudomonas. Plastics also carry AMR bacteria including β-lactam resistance. Thus, Southwest Indian Ocean islands are facing serious plastic pollution. This pollution requires vigilant monitoring as it harbors a plastisphere including AMR, that threatens pristine ecosystems and potentially human health through the marine food chain.

Global analysis of marine plastics and implications of control measure strategies

Plastic pollution is a global environmental crisis that threatens marine ecosystems and human health. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of plastic pollution in oceans worldwide. We examined data on global plastic production, annual estimates of plastic emissions to oceans from different countries, surface plastic mass by ocean basin, the share of global plastic waste emitted to the ocean, the share of ocean plastics that come from the largest emitting rivers, microplastics in the surface ocean, and plastic mass and particles across the world surface ocean. Our analysis revealed alarming trends, such as the significant increase in plastic production since the 1950s and the projected estimate of up to 12,000 million metric tons of plastic waste in the natural environment by 2050. Additionally, we found that more than 1000 rivers account for 80% of global annual emissions, with Asia contributing the highest estimate of plastic emissions, followed by Africa, South America, North America, Europe, and Oceania. Furthermore, our findings showed that the largest contributors to ocean plastic waste are macroplastics, mesoplastics, and microplastics, with small microplastics dominating the percentage of surface ocean plastic by particle count. The recycling and reuse of waste plastics implement the concept of sustainable development of recycling and offsets the carbon emissions in the environment, potentially obtaining more carbon credits. Our findings highlight the urgent need for coordinated global efforts to reduce plastic waste and prevent further harm to our oceans, incorporating recycling and reuse strategies as key components of comprehensive control measures.

Lagrangian tracking of long-lasting plastic tags: From lobster fisheries in the USA and Canada to Macaronesia

Plastic waste from the fishing industry, particularly lobster trap identification tags from the USA and Canada, poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems due to its resilience. This study unveils a novel link between North American fisheries and the appearance of these plastic tags in Macaronesia. Collected in the Azores and Canary Islands, these tags offer a unique insight into the sources and spatio-temporal scales of marine plastic pollution. Ocean model data indicates the Labrador Current and Gulf Stream as key forces transporting these tags. Virtual particle simulations show a small fraction reaching Macaronesia (4.12 % in the Azores, 0.76 % in the Canary Islands), suggesting real ocean drift. The Azores, with more collected tags, are more susceptible, and tags can reach Macaronesia in under a year. These findings underscore the urgency of better waste management and emphasize the role of citizen science in monitoring and combating marine pollution.

Marine plastic pollution in the Anthropocene: A linguistic toolkit for holistic understanding and action

In the Anthropocene, the significant and pervasive human impact on Earth's ecosystems is manifested in myriad ways, with the ever-increasing presence of plastic pollution being a prime example. This paper presents a comprehensive exploration of the ubiquitous problem of marine plastic pollution in the Anthropocene, providing a vital lexicon for all stakeholders. This linguistic toolkit enables effective communication and mutual understanding among scientists, policymakers, activists, and the general public, fostering tailored and targeted approaches to address the various facets of plastic pollution. It further underscores the profound human impact on the environment to the extent that our plastic litter might symbolize the inception of a new geological epoch. However, these classifications, while mirroring our role in shaping the Earth, do not mitigate the urgent need to address plastic pollution. Rather, they serve as an urgent call to action, emphasizing the power we possess to solve the problem we have created. As we traverse this era full with plastic, our responsibility is to leverage this lexicon not only to comprehend the extent of the damage caused but also to ignite innovative solutions and foster resilience. Regardless of the nomenclature assigned to our era, our duty to safeguard the planet remains paramount.

Quantitative photography for rapid, reliable measurement of marine macro‐plastic pollution

Abstract Plastics are now ubiquitous in the environment and have been studied in wildlife and in ecosystems for more than 50 years. Measurement of size, shape and colour data for individual fragments of plastic is labour‐intensive, unreliable and prone to observer bias, particularly when it comes to assessment of colour, which relies on arbitrary and inconsistently defined colour categorisations. There is a clear need for a standard method for data collection on plastic pollution, particularly one that can be readily automated given the number of samples involved. This study describes a new method for standardised photography of marine plastics in the 1–100 mm size range (meso‐ and macro‐plastics), including colour correction to account for any image‐to‐image variation in lighting that may impact colour reproduction or apparent brightness. Automated image analysis is then applied to detect individual fragments of plastic for quantitative measurement of size, shape, and colour. The method was tested on 3793 fragments of debris ingested by Flesh‐footed Shearwaters (Ardenna carneipes) on Lord Howe Island, Australia, and compare results from photos taken in two separate locations using different equipment. Photos were acquired of up to 250 fragments at a time with a spatial resolution of 70 μm/pixel and were colour‐corrected using a reference chart to ensure accurate reproduction of colour. The automated image analysis pipeline was found to have a 98% success rate at detecting fragments, and the different size and shape parameters that can be outputted by the pipeline were compared in terms of usefulness. The evidence shown in this study should strongly encourage the uptake of this method for cataloguing macro‐scale plastic pollution, as it provides substantially higher quality data with accurate, reliable measurements of size, shape and colour for individual plastics that can be readily compared between disparate datasets.

Marine plastic pollution: fishers’ coping strategies and its welfare effect in Volta region, Ghana

The issue of marine plastic pollution has drawn significant attention from around the world due to the harm it poses to marine and coastal ecosystems. Despite this, the scholarly literature has not been able to fully explore the coping strategies adopted by fishers and their welfare effects. Motivated by this argument, this study examines the determinants of the coping strategies employed in response to marine plastic pollution, and its effect on fishers' productivity in the Volta region, Ghana. Empirically, the multinomial endogenous switching regression (MESR) model established that the drivers of the coping strategies adopted were age, knowledge, marital status, fishers' experience in fishing, and household size. Fishers that adopted purse net only, drift-gill net only, both purse and drift-gill nets and all the three fishing techniques (purse, drag and drift-gill) have a greater productivity compared to the non-adopters. Policy implications are proposed.

Comparison Between the Plastic Waste Influx of Rural Rivers: Mlese River in Indonesia and Hamada River in Japan

Marine plastic pollution has become a global concern as plastic wastes continue to accumulate in the world’s oceans. Usually, such accumulation occurs due to garbage leakage from land, which eventually flow into the river pathways through surface runoff or wind. This study aims to draw a parallel between the garbage influx of two rural rivers in Indonesia and Japan. Data collections were carried out at one of the river points in Indonesia’s Mlese River and Japan’s Hamada River when the weather was not rainy. The river characteristics and influx of plastic litter into the river streams were analysed at a specific time of a day. In Mlese River, trashboom method and, in Hamada River, manual netting method were used to trap the plastics. The waste outflow was 370 g/hr from Mlese River and 0.25 g/hr from Hamada River. Despite the average discharge of the two rivers being quite similar (0.34 m3/s), the plastic outflow in Mlese River was about 1400 times compared to the plastic outflow of Hamada River, proving the waste leakage problem in Indonesia to be greater. Data must be collected in rainy days as well to better understand the complete situation of waste influx in these rivers.

Finding equitable solutions to the land-based sources of marine plastic pollution: Sovereignty as a double-edged sword

Marine litter is a global and transboundary pollution problem. Recent attention has focused on the impact of this issue on areas beyond national jurisdiction. In many cases, marine litter is traced to a coastal State where debris have been released into the sea. Effective and legally-binding commitments at the global level to tackle land-based sources of marine pollution are rare, in large part because of the sensitive nature of territorial sovereignty. When it comes to addressing the marine plastics crisis, sovereignty is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the international legal regime traditionally addressing marine litter, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, does not specifically respond to, and is not able to adequately address, the issue of plastics as a land-based source of marine pollution. While it contributes to social equity by recognizing the special position of developing States in terms of capacity and need for economic development, this deference to domestic decisions is not conducive to the adoption of binding and global standards. Since a large majority of plastics in the oceans originate from land, this weakness is a major concern. On the other hand, sovereignty might contribute to a solution within the regime regulating trade in waste products: unilateral actions taken in application of sovereign powers and aimed at reducing trade in plastic waste led to major multilateral actions with the potential to reduce the issue of marine plastic pollution. In recent times, the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal has indeed become an important forum to respond to the plastic waste issue, with the potential to contribute to a solution to the marine dimension of this crisis. This regime is not perfect, especially in that its complexity and reliance on enforcement at the customs level leave ample opportunities for criminal activities to flourish. Areas for improvement include addressing the legal uncertainty regarding bilateral, regional, and multilateral agreements as well as certain key definitions; strengthening the prior informed consent procedure and the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance; and heavily investing in capacity building and technology transfer. Nonetheless, this regime provides a widely-ratified framework to decrease trade in plastic waste considered hazardous or requiring special consideration – these two categories cover most hard-to-recycle plastics. In that sense, the Basel Convention regime has the potential to reduce mismanaged plastic waste leaking into the oceans and to contribute to social equity between States–if not domestically–by reducing the practice of wealthy countries using developing States as dumping grounds under the pretense of mutually beneficial trade in waste products.

The Existence of International Agreements on National and Regional Legislation Related to Handling Marine Plastic Waste in Indonesia

Indonesia has ratified international environmental agreements such as the Marine Pollution Convention (MARPOL) 1973/1978, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary. Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (Basel) 1989, United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) 1992, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 1992, Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Convention, 2001 and several other international agreements. The international agreement has also laid down norms related to plastic waste in the ocean, although they are very limited. For Indonesia, after the ratification of the international agreement, follow-up steps are needed from legislative, administrative, and institutional aspects to funding through laws and regulations. On the other hand, the process of negotiating international agreements regarding plastic waste in the sea is still ongoing. Therefore, it will also be seen how Indonesia's role and the relationship between the draft zero draft international plastic waste agreement and existing international agreements. This article aims to find out and examine the existence of existing and future international agreements and how they affect the national and regional levels, especially those related to plastic waste in the sea. Therefore, various ratification processes, the formation of laws and regulations, institutions, administration, funding, and other actions related to the issue of plastic waste in the sea in Indonesia will be studied. In general, this article has shown that in Indonesia, there are already regulations to implement international agreements both ratified and synchronized with the draft Global Plastic Treaty that is being made. The conclusion shows that the Government of Indonesia has a strong commitment to the existence of international agreements related to plastic waste in the sea. The recommendation or suggestion is that existing or ongoing international agreements should be able to provide benefits for the welfare of the Indonesian people.

Investigation on the effect of several parameters involved in the biodegradation of polyethylene (PE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) under various seawater environments

This work investigates the biodegradation of polyethylene (PE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and the leaching of their harmful additives. Micro/macro-plastics of both types were subjected to different laboratory-controlled conditions for 3 months. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC–MS) results revealed that leachate concentrations ranged from 0.40 ± 0.07 μg/L to 96.36 ± 0.11 μg/L. It was concluded that the additives' leaching process was promoted by light. However, light was not the only factor examined; microorganisms, pH, salinity, aeration/mixing and temperature influenced the biodegradation process, too. GC–MS results showed a prodigious impact on the biodegradation process when Pseudomonas aeruginosa was added to the artificial seawater compared to plastics exposed to light/air only. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrographs demonstrated a significant alteration in the plastics' morphologies. Similarly, Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra showed obvious changes in plastics characteristic peaks, especially microplastics. Furthermore, it was shown that PE was more susceptible to degradation/biodegradation than LDPE. Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) findings showed that some toxic metals were present in water samples after experiments, with concentrations above the permissible limits. For instance, bio-augmentation/bio-stimulation experiments showed that the concentrations of Pb, Sr, and Zn were 0.59 mg/L, 70.09 mg/L, and 0.17 mg/L, respectively; values above the permissible limits. It is crucial to emphasise that plastics must be meticulously engineered to avoid environmental and human impacts, originated from their degradation by-products. Furthermore, a holistic approach engaging stakeholders, researchers, policymakers, industries and consumers, is essential to effectively tackle the global challenge of marine plastic pollution.

Building collaboration and synergy among regional blocs to reduce marine plastic waste pollution: A case for the Gulf of Guinea region

The Gulf of Guinea (GoG) region in sub-Saharan Africa is a vast and diverse region stretching from Senegal to Angola, covering approximately 6000 km of coastline. It is an important shipping zone transporting oil and gas, as well as goods to and from central and southern Africa. Plastic waste has an impact on the major metropolitan centers of this region, as well as the beaches. The Gulf of Guinea region includes the coastal areas of countries such as Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Benin, and Togo. This study uses qualitative methodology to comparatively interrogate how to use legal instruments to reduce marine plastic pollution in the Gulf of Guinea region, which encompasses these coastal nations.

Biodegradation of plastics in the pelagic environment of the coastal zone – Proposed test method under controlled laboratory conditions

The increasing quantities of plastic litter accumulated in the oceans, including microplastics, represent a serious environmental threat. Despite the recent legislative actions, the plastic littering problem will not disappear in a short time. It may, however be ameliorated by replacing conventional non-degradable plastics with bio-based materials biodegradable in marine environment (targeting the non-recycled or mismanaged plastic waste). Although priority is set to prevention of plastic litter by means of the circular economy principles, biodegradability is a means of controlling unintentional plastic pollution. In this effort, the development of reliable test methods that would be used along with standard specifications for determining the biodegradability of novel polymeric materials or plastics in marine environments, is a necessary complementary component of the whole strategy to control the marine plastic litter and micro-, nano-plastics threat. The present work focuses on identifying gaps and improving available laboratory test methods for measuring the aerobic biodegradation of plastics in the seawater column within the coastal zone (pelagic environment). The research work followed a methodology that is based on recommendations of ASTM D6691:2017 concerning biodegradation of plastics in the seawater and the similar ISO 23977-1:2020. Three different implementation schemes of the test method were applied using different experimental setups and measuring techniques for monitoring the evolved CO2. The effect of critical parameters affecting nutrient adequacy (concentration in inoculum) and oxygen adequacy (bioreactor size, sample size, frequency of aeration) on the biodegradation of four tested materials was explored, and optimal values are proposed. The results allowed for the refinement of the proposed test method to improve reliability and reproducibility.

Dispersion of surface floating plastic marine debris from Indonesian waters using hydrodynamic and trajectory models

Plastic waste has become the most significant component of marine debris, while research on traces of marine plastic waste related to the condition of Indonesian waters is still limited. Therefore, this study examines the movement patterns of plastic marine debris in Indonesian waters. Simulations were carried out for one year (2013) using the HAMburg Shelf Ocean Model (hydrodynamic model) and Lagrange trajectory. The approach treated the simulated particles as conservative particles floating at sea. Even though the percentage is small (±16 %), Indonesia contributes to transboundary marine debris in the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, and the South China Sea due to the influence of the south equatorial currents moving from north and south of Indonesia. Most of the plastic marine debris remains in Indonesian waters (±80–84 %) and moves back and forth due to the influence of the monsoon currents. Therefore, the Java Sea becomes a crossing point and accumulates plastic marine debris.

Multi-stakeholder perspective to generate evidence and strategies for sustainable management of ropes from the fishing sector of Norway

Marine plastic pollution is a growing stressor affecting both marine and terrestrial life. Plastic polymers are widespread in oceans, including sparsely populated Nordic countries. Norway, a fishing-dominant region, faces substantial plastic pollution from fishing ropes, which often end up incinerated, landfilled, or lost in the ocean, contributing to the ghost fishing problem.This research employs a static material flow analysis (MFA) to assess plastic mass flows and the recyclability of 15 rope types used in Norway's commercial fishing sector. Findings reveal that approximately 383 tons of ropes are lost annually in Norwegian waters, endangering fish species. Furthermore, only one-third of the rope types can be efficiently recycled using available recycling technologies, highlighting the need for circularity.The MFA and inventory-based ranking approach shows significant potential as a holistic decision support tool for industry and policymakers in exercising sustainable and circular management for ropes.

Processing plastic waste via pyrolysis-thermolysis into hydrogen and solid carbon additive to ethylene-vinyl acetate foam for cushioning applications

A strategy for enhancing value creation from pyrolysis gas and oil, derived from plastic waste, through the generation of two additional outputs of solid carbon and hydrogen was investigated. Three types of hard-to-recycle plastic waste (marine plastic litter, household mixed plastics and cosmetic products packaging) were thermally treated in two stages: (i) decomposition of feedstock into gas and oil via pyrolysis at 600 °C; and (ii) thermolytic conversion of the pyrolysis gas and a fraction of oil into hydrogen and solid carbon at 1300 °C separately. The thermolysis of both pyrolysis gas and oil fractions predominantly resulted in the production of solid carbon (39–70 wt% per plastic feedstock and carbon content of 91.3–98.6 wt%) and H2-rich gas (H2 yield of 5.9–10.8 wt% per plastic waste feedstock and H2 content of 71.4–97.2 vol% per gas volume). The incorporation of pyrolysis oil into the thermolysis process could enhance the outputs of solid carbon and hydrogen. Characterizations of solid carbon and hydrogen obtained from pyrolysis gas and oil fractions were further conducted. The observed similar properties of H2 and solid carbon from pyrolysis gas and oil supported the feasibility of introducing all the pyrolytic products together into the thermolysis process without condensation of oil. To enhance the value of these solid carbon derived from plastics for practical usage, we utilized the obtained solid carbon as a reinforcing agent for polymer composite foam development. The solid carbon reinforced composite foam displayed great abrasion resistance (wear loss: 240 mg), compression strength (0.347 MPa), and dynamic impact properties (energy returned: 124 J/m and energy absorbed: 57.3 J/m), emphasizing the viability of solid carbon as a nucleating agent and reinforcing filler in polymer foam for cushioning applications. Overall, the strategy of pyrolysis-thermolysis, which harnesses both pyrolysis gas and oil, unlocks additional value creation by producing two new outputs from plastic waste. Depending on the market prices for solid carbon and hydrogen, this can substantially change the economics of plastic waste management and create new revenue streams, incentivizing plastic waste collection and processing.

On advances, challenges and potentials of remote sensing image analysis in marine debris and suspected plastics monitoring

Marine plastic pollution is an emerging environmental problem since it pollutes the ocean, air and food whilst endangering the ocean wildlife via the ingestion and entanglements. During the last decade, an enormous effort has been spent on finding possible solutions to marine plastic pollution. Remote sensing imagery sits in a crucial place for these efforts since it provides informative earth observation products, and the current technology offers further essential development. Despite the advances in the last decade, there is still a way to go for marine plastic monitoring research where challenges are rarely highlighted. This paper contributes to the literature with a critical review and aims to highlight literature milestones in marine debris and suspected plastics (MD&SP) monitoring by promoting the computational imaging methodology behind these approaches along with detailed discussions on challenges and potential future research directions.

Influence of marine habitat on microplastic prevalence in forage fish and salmon in the Salish Sea

Microplastics are increasingly prevalent in marine systems and are a growing concern as a marine pollutant and contaminant with consequences for high trophic level consumers, including humans. Given evidence that links plastics to degraded ecosystem functioning and organismal health, there is increased interest in understanding the prevalence, fate and consequences of marine plastics. Microplastics contain and absorb harmful chemicals which may serve as endocrine disruptors and have negative implications for growth, reproductive health, and longevity. To expand current knowledge on microplastics in coastal marine ecosystems and the potential for biomagnification in marine food webs, we conducted stomach analyses of microplastics in Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) and Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes personatus), an important prey for salmon. Prevalence of microplastics was substantial; 77 % of all salmon and 25 % of all sand lance stomachs contained at least one microplastic. Fish were sampled at multiple sites throughout the inland Salish Sea, including beaches and sediment bedforms for Pacific sand lance and open-water pelagic habitat for Pacific salmon. Pacific sand lance sampled at beach sites had more microplastics compared to those sampled in subtidal sediments and there were more plastics in sand lance at a protected beach site as compared to an exposed beach site. Prevalence of plastics in salmon differed according to species and included analyses of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), and Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch); plastics were predominantly fibers in all species, though there were relatively higher rates of ingestion of films and particles in Chinook. Comparisons between plastic concentrations and stomach fullness indicated a slight negative trend, suggesting that plastics may be retained. Further investigation is needed to develop a more thorough understanding of the prevalence and fate of microplastics in coastal marine systems such as the Salish Sea, their concentration within marine food webs, and the implications for species targeted in fisheries.

Environmental Sustainability of Solvent Extraction Method in Recycling Marine Plastic Waste

The global plastic production of 400 million tons/year has caused major catastrophes in marine environments. The current study, therefore, aimed to mitigate this challenge through the dissolution–reprecipitation method of eradicating impurities and contaminants from marine plastic debris. The results revealed that the rate of the dissolution of polyethylene (PE) outweighed polypropylene (PP) at lower temperatures. HDPE (high density polyethylene) and PP had optimal dissolution temperatures of 75 °C and 90 °C at 20 and 30 min, respectively, resulting in recovery percentages of 96.67% and 87.35% when applied to actual marine waste samples. Overall, this recycling method conserved the plastic quality and properties, making it a viable alternative for virgin plastics. The life cycle assessment (LCA) revealed that the drying stage demonstrated the greatest environmental impact within the system. The overall process, however, yielded a lower environmental impact in comparison with established findings. Conclusively, the current study has successfully restored marine plastic waste with high recovery rates and minimum chemical alterations, yielding a low environmental footprint.